Machine for washing, rinsing, or chemically treating wool.



No. 663,452. Patented Dec. Il, |906.

E. MAEBTEHS.

MGMINE FR WSHBNG, BINSING, 0R GHEMICALLY TREATING WUUL.

' (Application led Apr. 14, 1900.)

\ v 'fla' MTMESSEE. N o

0. e D d. a t n e a DI S. N E l D" rr- A M E 2. 5 4, s 6 6 0. N

MACHINE Fun WASHING, nmsme, on cHr-:mwALLv msnm wnoL.

(Applicatpn led Apr. l, 1900.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.'

No. 663,452. f hmmm nec. ",1900.

E. mamans.

FMMIHIME FOR WASHING, RINSiNG, EN? CHEMICALLY TBEATING WODL.

(Application led Apr. 14, 1900.) K (No Modal.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 h// TME-'5.555.

@ZA @/MMQM No. 663,452. Patented nec. n, i900. E. MAERTENS.

MACHINE FUR WASHING, BINSING, 0B CHEMISALLY TREATING WOL.

(Application led Apr. 14, 1900.) (No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

oeooaeoo MTA/5555.5. v 4

No. 663,452. Patented Dec. II, |900. E. MAERTENS. MACHINE FUR WASHING,RINSING, 0R CHEMICLLY TREATING WOOL.

ilu-MEE SijArEs EMILE MAERTENS, or PROVIDENCE, RHODE IsLAnn;

MACHiNE For wAsHiNG, mNslNG; on cHEMlcALtY TRE/inte woot.

sPEcrFIcATIoN forming part or Letters Patent No. 663.452, datedDecember' 11, 19nd.

Application tied April 14,1900.

To a/ZZ whom i Wwf/y con/corn,.- l

l Beit k nown thatl, EMILE MAERTENS, a citi- 'zen of the United States,residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode'Island, have invented-a new and useful Machine for Washing, Rinsing, orChemically Treating Wool and other Animal Fibers, of which thefollowingis a speciica tion.

My invention relates to improvements in wool-washing machines havingsuperposed chutes or troughsthrough which the wool is carried by meansof a dow-of liquid which is supplied'to them by a pump or otherequivalent device and also to improvements in the means employed forcarrying or lifting the wool from said chutes or troughs or from awashbowl into the squeezing or pressing rollers of wool-washingmachines, the object be-l ing to improve the quality, increase thequantity, and lessen the cost of the work. I attain r these objects bythe mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inr which-Fignre 1 is a vertical section of a whole machine built accordingto myinvention and representing one element in a battery. Fig. 2 is avertical section of an ordinary single washbowl fitted up withmyimprovedv lifting deviceand Isubmergers or regulators. Fig. 3 is aplan view` of the same. lvation in section, showing my improved liftingor carrying device as applied to machines of the style shown in Fig. 1.'Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a side elevation showinghow my improved lifting or carrying device is driven. Fig. 7 representsone of the sul'nnergers and regulators H to H2. Fig. 8V represents theforaminous bucket-wheel or conveyer J. Fig. 9 represents the'foraminousinclined plate or conveyer L.

Similar letters refer to similar parts th roughout the several views. Vl

Referring to Fig. 1, AV is the bottom tank or reservoir for holding theliquid used in the operation. lB isa valve for emptying the contents ofsaid' tank into the sewer.

Vthe liquid."

C is a centrifugal pump, whichcirculates D is a false top orpartitionwith perforations at D', through which' the liquid'coming lfrom the chutes ortroughs or expressed by the squeezing-rollers returnsto the tank A e the chutes.

Fig. 4 Vis an ele- Serial. No. 12,853.' (No model.)

and which prevents any stock which may accidentally be dropped fromeptering said tank.

E is an ov`eriiow from tank A into the sewer. F is a pipe capable ofdischarging direct I from the bottom of the lower trough or chute' intothe sewer (when the valve F' is closed) by way o f the overflow E.

G, G', G2, G3, and G4v are su perposedchutes or troughs. i

H represents revolving submergers, which submerge the stock in theliquid on entering H' and H2 are revolving regulators, (of aconstruct-ion similar to H,) which regulate the soaking time of thestock, its motion forward through the chutes, and its delivery from'chute to chute.

I I Iz Isare Valved ducts, through which the bottom of each chuteA ortrough (below the perforated false bottoms g t-o g4) is made tocommunicate with the bottom ,of the one next beneath it, and these existon both sides of the troughs or chutes. I? is a similar valved duct,putting the bottom of chute or trough G in direct communication vwiththe sewer by w'ay of 'pipe' F and overflow-:E or with the tank.

A, according to whether the valve F' is closed 8o or open. y

J is a revolving wheel having a foraminous core J', forming the bottomsof a seriesfof buckets J2, having foraminous sides but full or closedends, such revolving bucket-wheels 8 being -one of the means sometimesemployedA for conveying the stock from one chute to, the one next belowit.

K is a foraminous traveling apron, sometimes used for the saine purposeas the wheel J.

L represents forami'nous inclined planes with full or closed upturnedsides, sometimes used for the same purpose as the wheel J and the apronK.

M is a foraminous open-ended hollow revolving cylinder running in` aclosed-end trough M", which lifts or carriesthe stock to thecarrying-rollers M2 for delivery to the squeezing-rollers N and N'. O isa pi pe which delivers the liquid pumped from tank A by pump Cinto theupper trough G4, and valve 0'v regulates the quantity of. liquidadmitted to said trough. 1 f

l is a pipe conveying water under high loo pressure for washing-outpurposes, and the valve P' regulates its How.

Q'isa plate pivoted at q and capable of being moved in the positionshown by the dotted lin'es Q and which when in that position causes theiow of liquid from either pipe() or P lo travel underneath the falsebottom' g4 of the trough or chute G4 instead of above said falsebottom..

R is a traveling apron delivering ustock to the machine.

Sj is a traveling apron which conveys the stock from the machine or fromone machine to the next one of a series or battery.

T, Fig. 2,'is the tank containing the liquid usedin the operation, and tis its foraminous false bottom 'or partition.

UU' are ducts into which (lows the liquid which enters the foraminoushollow revolving roller M andwhich is discharged through its open endsor sides m m", Fig. 3.

V V' are pipes connecting with the ducts vU and U and with the pumps Cfor the circulation of the liquid from the inside of the cylinder M tothe back of tank T, Fig. 2.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the operation of the machine is as followsAssuming-that. the

4 tank Ais suitably filled with a scouring liquor 'at the proper degreeof temperature, the.

clined plate L, and from there in .turn and in a similar manner overowsinto'tfrough or chute G. 'From the'chu'teG it overiiows into thesemicirculartrough M' and from there,` 4S

passing through the foraminous rolle-r M, it

. drops back -intdtank A via ducts U and U",

Figs. 4 and 5 and perforated false top D. The

machine is now'put in motion. The'wool fed in by the apron Rfalls intotrough' G4, where itis met by\a-current of liquor forced from` tank A bythe pump C. This current oats the wool against the revolving submergersH,

vwhich cause its complete immersion .and forward movement at apredetermined rate of speed. The liquor` travelsl faster than' theWoolin all thebhuts and passes underneath it'land between itv and thefalse bottom gto g4 so long as the wool {ioats between submergers andregulators; butswhen the wool has got beyond-thecontrolling action ofthe last regulator in any ehu-te it assumes `the 'same velocyity as theliquorin said chute.. As the submergers Hlet go ofthe wool litis carriedfor- Lward and up to regulator H', which. revolves slower thansubmergers 'llhis causes the wool .-to accumulate in the space between H"and Hjnear-the surface of the liquor.v As

the regulator H' lets go ofthe wool it is carried forward and up toregulator H2, .which revolves slower than regulator H', and this 7oagain causes the wool toaccumnlate near the surfac'e of the liquor inthe space between H p and H2. As regulator H2 lets go of the wool itassumes thevelocity of the liquor and falls with it into wheel J; butitis separated from its liquor thereinzand deposited at a predeterminedrate of speed in the trough G3 below, the liquor from succeeding chargesof .wool and liquorin the upper buckets serving to wash or help emptyfrom the lower buck- 8o ets the `wool with which they were filled bypreceding charges. The current generated by the entrance into trough G3of the liquor passing through the foraminous wheel J oats the wooldeposited by said wheel up to the submerger H of said trough or chute,and

from `there it is passed along from submerger f H to regulator H', fromthe latter to regulator H2, and when this regulator lets go of it it iscarried-by the current onto t-he traveling. 9o forarninous apron K,where .it is separated from its liquor and deposited by said apron intotrough G2. The current generated by thel entrance into said trough ofthe liquor passing through apron K floatsy the Wool up to,- ysubmergerHof saidvtrough, and it is by it y and the'currenttransmittedto regulatoLI- I f and from the latter to regulator H2, aspre- Viously explained. When regulator H2 of chute G2 lets go of thewool, the current carroo ries it onto the inclined foraminous plate L,down which it floats into Ichute or trough G1, separating itself fromits liquor (which passes through the openings or perforations in saidplate) on its wayinto said chute. The wool 105 passes through chute G"as it has through the other chutes and enters trough Gin the same manneras it entered trough G'. Itis carried through chute G in the same manneras^v through the other chutes; but when the regu- 't ro lator H2 ofchute G lets go of it the liquorI carries it into the semicirculartroughM',

in which revolves the hollow foraininous' t roller M.k 'The' liquorfinds an exit from-said trough M by way of the openings or perfo- 11:5y

rations in the hollow roller M andthe ducts j U and U', Figs. 4 and 5,connecting with .the ends therefrom; and returns into the tank AAthrough the perforations at D'.

In nding itseXit the liquor carries the wool over the l12e perforationsin M, and the rush of liquor to.` ward the surface of` said roller and.its pres sure thereon while seeking an exit cause's the wool tofastenitself to said rol-ler in a continuous, even, and unbroken sheet which.x25` is formed 'continuously and 'as fast as new unobstructedperforations are brought forth by the rotation of said roller. The woolsticking to roller M passes through the trou-gh M'- and isslightlysqueezedin .itsvexit therefrom 13o betweenA .thevv surface ofsaid roller and the",r r'st of the small carrying-rollers Itlisdelivered in an"even 'sheet'onto the carryingfrollersf'M2 and by themcarried to the nip of the squeezing-rollers N and N' and by` sand ordirt freed from the wool or when it' is deemed necessary to clean them,the valves I, I', I2, I3, and I4 are opened and the liquor contained inthe chutes or troughs, along with some of the sand or dirt existingunder the false bottoms of said chutes, is allowed to drain back intothe tank A; but the great bulk of the dirt which remains under the falsebottoms is removed and discharged directly into the sewer as follows:Valve O' being closed, the plate Q is raised in the position shown bythe dotted lines Q. The valve P,which admits water underhigh pressure,is then opened,while the valve F ou pipe F, which is thus made tocommunicate directly with the sewer by the overflow E of the tank A, isopened also.- The water admitted under the falsebottom g4 washes out`the dirt from under saidfalse bottom, which, together with said water,enters the duct I and through it the space under false bottom g3 of.chute G3, washes out the dirt'deposited in said space, enters the ductI', and through it the space under false bottom g2 of chute G2, washesout the dirt deposited in said space, enters the duct' '12, and throughit the space under false bottom g of chute G', washes out the dirtdeposited in said space, enters the duct I8, and through it the spaceunder the false bottom g of chute G,washes out the dirt deposited insaid space, enters the duct I4, and through it the pipe F, by which itempties into the sewer, as previously stated.

The liquor from tank A can ofcourse be used for washing-out purposes;but when' this is done the dirt washed out of the chutes i is depositedinto the tank A, or if it is not allowed to enter said tank, but is sentto the sewer by way of pipe F, the liquor used for washing-out purposesis wasted, -which may not always be desirable.

When it is deemed advisable to draw ol the liquor i-n tank A, it isdischarged by Valve B intothe sewer, and the sand and dirt which hasdeposited in said tank is then washed or flushed out, preferably bywater under pressure. The revolving submergers and regu? -lators H H H2,represented in the drawings as corrugated star-shaped drums with plainround heads, can of course be shaped dilerently and could be replaced bycylinders with projectii'lgwings, &c.` Theynot only submerge the wool,but regulate its travel through the chutes, prevent it from beingcontrolled by the current, form across the surface of the liquor in thechutes efficient dams which check its forward motion, cause ity toaccumulate and soak, and permit it to be carried forward by the liquorat a predetermined rate vof speed only. Were it not for the regulatorsthe wool would shoot forward as fast as the current would carry it. Attimes it would get lodged on one side or the other of the chute and forma pack which would either become dislodged in a lump or would block ordarn up the chute in such a 'manner that all current through it wouldstop and the liquor made to overflow on the sides of the chutes back ofthe congested portion thereof.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In Wool-washing machines, Ithe rotating,

traveling or inclined and stationary foraminous conveyors, J, K or L,adapted to transfer the wool from one chute to the succeeding chute, andto separate said wool from the bulk of the liquor with which it isdelivered to said conveyers, in its transfer from chute to chute,substantially as described.

2. In a Wool-washing machine, the combination of a series of chutes,means for feeding raw wool thereto, and devices intermediate of thechutes which transfer the wool from onechute to another andsimultaneouslydrain the wash liquid therefrom.

3. In a wool-washing machine lthe combination of a series of chutesprovided withfalse bottoms and a device intermediate lof the chutes fortransferring the wool from one chute to the succeeding chute saidtransferring device being providedwith a foraminous portion whereby thewool` is separated from the bulk of the liquid which it carries,substantially as described.

4. In a wool-washing machine the combina-r tion of a suitable vat andthe rotating sub- 'loo mergers H and regulators H', H2, adapted tosubmerge the wool, to regulate its travel through the chutes, to preventit from being controlled by the current of liquor flowing throughsaidchutes, to form across the surface of the liquor, in said chutes,efficient dams to check the forward motionof the wool, to cause it toaccumulate and soak between submergers and regulators in said chutes andto allow it to be carried forward by the flow of the liquor in thechutes at a predetermined rate of speed only, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a wool-washing machine,the combination of a suitable vat forholding the material I'Io.

to be treated, positively-driven sublnergersI "stantially as described.

6. In a wool-washing machi ue,tl1e com biuation of a suitable vat,.aplurality of positively-4 driven submergers and positively-drivenregulators therein, adapt-edf to be driven at different rates of speedfor the purpose set forth.

7. Inawool-washingmachine,theco1nbina tion of a suitable vat, a seriesof submergers and regulators therein and mechanismfor driving thesubmergers and regulators at su'c- 1 s nation of a seriesof chutes,mechanism intervolving in the direction -ofthe flow of tilel ycessively-decreas'in g speeds,wh ereby the progress of the Wooll throughthe water is checked,

substantially as set forth.

8. In wool-Washing machines, the combina--v 5 tion of a suitable vat, aplurality of regulators ltherein provided with transversely corrugated,ribbed or winged surfaces, substantially as described.

9. In wool-washing machines the combinaro tion of a suitable vat,a-foraminous partition v 10. In Wool-washing machines,the combination ofa series of chutes, draw-od devices zo connecting the chutes insuccession whereby the dirt or sediment accumulating' in the dif-fferent chutes may be flushed or-forced from the-chutes in succession,substantially aande-` scribed. 11. In a Wool-washing'machine, thecombimediate of the chutes for removing the bulk ofthe liquid from thewool in its passage from one chute to the succeeding chute, suitable 3ersubmergers and regulators in the chutes, a vat into which the Washliquor yis 'adapt-ed to How, meansfor returning the Wash-water to' thefirst chute whereby it can be again passed y through the machine,substantially as de'- 3 5` scribed. v

. 12. In a Wool-washing machine, the combi,-

nation of a series of chutes, a tank into which the wash-water from thechutes is adapted to flow, an overliow to said tank adapted forv 4oconnection with the sewer, a draw-:0E Whereby the'wash-water maybepassed directly from the. chutes into the sewer and a valve fordirecting the liquid into the tank or into the draw-off, substantiallyas described. 45 13. In a wool-washingmachine, the combi-l nation of asuitable vat, a` rotating, hollow, open-ended, foraminouselevating-cylinder. M, having a direction of motion opposite to that ofthe bottom squeezing-roller N and '5o. adaptedto' rotate in a trough M',to liftvthe wool from said trough or equivalent thereof, to the nipofthe squeezingrollers N and N' by the vpressure of the liquor in saidtroughv upon the Wool and cylinder, to. equalize the 5 5- thickness ofWool adhering to said cylinder by the carrying action of the liquorpassing through the perforations of saidcylin'der,

.and to press out of the wool the bulk of the liquor which `it contains`by 'squeezing vsaid 6o4 Wool between 4.its own foraminous surface andthe irst of the carryingrollers Mz before its elivery to thesqueezing ornip rollers N and? N', substantially as described; 14. In awool-.washing machine,v the .combination of a suitable vat, the cylinder`lit-relifquidin the v at, the trough M' and means for wenn* j W lcarrying away the liquor from the inside cylinder M, substantially asdescribed.

15. In a wool-Washing machine the combi- 7o I nation o f a suitable vat,the cylinder M revolving -iu thel direction ,ot the flow of `the liquidin the vat, the trough M', means for carrying away the liquor from theinside 'of cylinder M and-the carryingfrollers M2, sub- 75 stantially asdescribed.

16. In a wool-Washing machine, the combir nation of a suitable vat, aforaminous cylin' der with open ends revolving in the directiouv of theflow of the liquid i the vat adapted: to receive the wool therefr m andelevate it out of the vat, substantially as described. f 17. In aWool-washing machine, the combination of a suitable vat, a foraminou'scylinder with open ends revolving in the direction of the flow ot' theliquid in the vat adapted to receive the Wool therefrom and drain thesame, and offtakes connected with the openends of the cylinder 'tovreceive the liquid Y therefrom,substantially as described.

.18. Ina Wool-washing machine, the combination of a suitable vat, afora'minous elevating-cylinder'revolving in the direction of the ow ofthe liquid inthe vatadapted to receive the Wool therefrom, said cylinderbeing fprovided withopen'ends, means for drawing 0E; the liquid from theends .of said cylinder and means for returning it to thevat,substantially as described. f l

19. 'In a woolwashing machine, the combination of a suitable vat,foraminous elevatv ing means traveling in thev direction of the flow ofthe liquid in the .Vat adapted to elevate the wool out of the vat,-carrying mechanism to receiy'e the Wool from the elevating means andadapted to coperate therewith` whereby the wool is freed from the bulkof` the liquid which it carries, substantially as described. i

20. In a wool-washing machine, the'combi-V nation of a suitable vat, aforaminous elevating' means traveling inthe direction of the flow of theliquid in the vat. adapted to receive the Wool from thevat,carryingrollers `to receive the wool from the elevating means andTIO squeezing-rolls adapted to receive the wool from thecarrying-rollers and express the liqf uid therefrom, Asubstantial ly asdescribed. 21. In a wool-washing machine, the combination of a suitablevat, submergers therein, suitable elevating mechanism traveling in thedirection ofl the .How of the liquidf'in4 the vat, carry'ing-rollerscooperating therewith squeezingf'rollers, and means'whereby the liq uidexpressedfrom the Wool may loe-reused.v 22,. In a Wodl+washing`machin-e,the combination of a suitable v at, a tankadjace'nt thereto 'and adaptedto receive thewool there-vl i from, and foraminous elevatingv mechanismin said tank traveling in the direction ofthe dow of the liquidtherein', substantially as de scribed. V v v 23. In'a Wool-washingmachine, the com l'ri'v nation of a suitablevat, a tank adjacentthereto, a foraminous open-ended elevatingcylinder in said tanktraveling in the direction of the flow of the liquid therein andotltake-pipes adapt-ed to receive the liquid from the ends of saidcylinders, substantially as described.

24C. In a wool-washing machine, the combination of a suitable vat, anadjacent tank, a foraminous elevating-cylinder therein traveling in thedirection of the How of the liquid in said tank, carrying mechanismcoperating therewith, squeezing-rolls to receive the wool from thecarrying mechanism and means for reusing the wash-water, substantiallyas described.

` Q5. In a wool-washing machine, the combition therein, suitablesubmergers and regulaters above the partition, elevating mechanismtraveling in the direct-ion of the flow of the liquid in the vat adaptedto receive the wool from the vat, devices whereby the Wash liquor can bereused and means for directing the liquor above or below the foraminouspartition, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in `presence of two witnesses.

EMILE MAERTENS..

Ii/tnesses:

RUFUS S. MATTESON, M. I. FAY.

